2018 Sun Belt Conference football season


The 2018 Sun Belt conference football season began on August 30, 2018, and ended on November 24, 2018. It was a part of the 2018 season of the Football Bowl Subdivision, the top level of NCAA Division I football. The Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game was played on December 1, 2018, with Appalachian State winning the inaugural game. The entire schedule was released on February 27.

Preseason

Coaches predictions

The 2018 preseason coaches football poll was released on July 19, voted from the 10 coaches of the conference. Appalachian State and Arkansas State were chosen to be the finalist for their division, with the Red Wolves predicted to win the first ever Sun Belt Championship Game.
East Division
West Division
This will be the first season with 10 teams as the New Mexico State left the conference to become independent and Idaho downgraded to FCS and compete in the Big Sky Conference. The scheduling format for the ten members were reset for the 2018 season. Each member will play eight other members in the conference with four at home and four away. The conference was split up with five teams representing the east and the other five representing the west division. A team will play each team within their division and four from the other division. South Alabama and Troy will be the only two teams to play each other every year due to their rivalry and proximity to each other.

Schedule

Regular season

Week One

Players of the Week

Week Two

Players of the Week

Week Three

Players of the Week

Week Four

Players of the Week

Week Five

Players of the Week

Week Six

Players of the Week

Week Seven

Players of the Week

Week Eight

Players of the Week

Week Nine

Players of the Week

Week Ten

Players of the Week

Week Eleven

Players of the Week

Week Twelve

Players of the Week

Week Thirteen

Players of the Week

Sun Belt Championship Game

Postseason

Bowl games

Bowls based on contractual tie-ins. Actual bowls attended by Sun Belt members may vary and will be announced following the regular season.
Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime Sun Belt teamOpponentScoreAttendance
Cure BowlDecember 15Camping World Stadium • Orlando, FLCBSSN1:30 p.m.LouisianaTulane24–4119,066
Camellia BowlDecember 15Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, ALESPN4:30 p.m.Georgia SouthernEastern Michigan23–2117,710
New Orleans BowlDecember 15Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LAESPN8:00 p.m.Appalachian StateMiddle Tennessee45–1323,942
Dollar General BowlDecember 22Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALESPN6:00 p.m.TroyBuffalo42–3231,818
Arizona BowlDecember 29Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZCBSSN8:00 p.m.Arkansas StateNevada13–1632,368

Awards and honors

Individual Awards

Offense:
Defense:
Special Teams:
Ref:

Non-conference records

Power Five conferences

Group of Five conferences

FBS independents

FCS conferences

Home attendance

Bold: Exceeded capacity
†Season High